Frequently Asked Questions

While the European Union (EU) enacted legislation banning the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals, there are loopholes in the law. Products tested on animals in other countries, such as China, may be sold in the EU if the animal test data from elsewhere aren’t used to verify the safety of the cosmetics in the EU.  

Additionally, some cosmetics ingredients in the EU may be tested on animals for “worker safety” or other reasons—in violation of the intent of the law. No animal should suffer and die for a new lipstick or eye shadow, and we won’t list or allow our logo to be used by companies or brands that buy from suppliers that test on animals under these loopholes. Read more about this issue here. 

In October 2018, PETA opened its Ultimate Cruelty-Free List to include individual brands that meet our strict requirements across their entire product line.  

It isn’t always easy. Watch out for these ingredients and others that hurt animals: 

  • Beeswax 
  • Carmine 
  • Honey 
  • Lanolin 

Fortunately, most companies now know that consumers want products that don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients. To be completely safe, use only products from companies that are PETA-approved cruelty-free and vegan. 

Labels can be deceptive, so be careful! Companies may not have the same high standards as PETA when labeling their products. Our requirements include that companies ban animal tests for their ingredients, ingredient suppliers, formulations, and finished products. A company that claims not to test on animals but that doesn’t appear on our list may have eliminated tests on animals for finished products but not for ingredients.

PETA’s “Companies Working for Regulatory Change” list recognizes companies that test on animals only when explicitly required by law, that are completely transparent with PETA about the tests on animals they conduct and why, and that are actively working to promote development, validation, and acceptance of non-animal methods.  

Experimenters smear harsh chemicals on the bare skin of rabbits, mice, guinea pigs, and other animals and into rabbits’ eyes. They force substances down the throats of rats and mice. Rats are confined to plastic tubes so narrow that they can’t turn around and are forced to inhale aerosol ingredients. At the end of this torment, the experimenters usually kill the animals. 

These cruel tests don’t make products safe for humans. Many tests were developed more than 75 years ago and are as useless now as they were then. Animals aren’t good stand-ins for humans. Their skin, eyes, and entire physiology are very different from ours. What animals other than humans share with us is an ability to suffer and a need for families.  

We probably don’t have information on its testing policies or it does not sell its products in eligible regions, which include the U.S., Canada, India, and Germany. Please urge companies to apply to be on PETA’s Ultimate Cruelty-Free List.  

If your company does business in China, you’ll need to answer additional questions because products sold there are likely to be tested on animals. Although the Chinese government has relaxed some testing requirements, various conditions must be met to obtain a waiver on animal testing. Simply selling general or non–special use products isn’t sufficient to ensure that no animal testing will be required. For more information, please e-mail [email protected]. 

A company is placed on PETA’s “Companies That Do Test on Animals” list for one of the following reasons: 

  • It tests its ingredients, formulations, and/or final products on animals. 
  • It buys from suppliers that test needed ingredients on animals. 
  • It tests on animals or allows tests on animals when required by law. 
  • It allows tests on animals in order to sell its products in countries, such as China, where such tests may be required.